Orchard heater



Oct. 4, 1938. P. M. FOYRSTER 2,132,021

QRCHARD HEATER Filed Sept. 14, 1937 FiE-l.

INVENTOR. Pezec r M Foesree am/Palm ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 4, 1938 UNI-TE stares ORCHARD HEATER Percy M. Forster, Berkeley, Calif.

Application September 14, 1937, Seri'alNo. 163,788

3 Claims.

efficiently and is distributed in a manner re-' sulting in=v maximum. efficiency in orchard heating,

In practicing. my invention, I provide an orchard heater of simple construction which may be supported from the ground between the rows of. trees, or which may be suspended within the trees, The orchard heater is equipped with a gas'burner of novel construction capable of efficient operation either with natural or manufactured gas, or with tank type of gas. The heater is so constructed that the heat generated will be efficiently distributed radially in a manner obtainingi maximum efliciency in orchard heating.

One form whiclr'the invention may assume is exemplified in the: following description and i1- lustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawing; in which:

Fig; 1 is a central vertical sectional view through my improved heater, disclosing the preferred form of my invention.

Fig; 2' is a perspective view of the heater.

Fig, 3 is a transverse sectional view through the heater taken on line III--I1'I of Fig. 1.

Fig.4 is a sectional View taken on line IV-IV of Fig, 1.

Referring more particularly to the accompanying drawing, Ii] indicates an orchard heater capable of being supported by legs H from the ground between the rows of trees, or which may be suspended within a tree by means of a hook l2. It is obvious that When the device is to be supported within a tree, that the legs H may be dispensed with. v

The orchard heater I0 is provided with a burner M comprising a nozzle body i5 having a hollow cylindrical portion it, having a closed upper end I]. drical portion [-6 the nozzle body i5 is formed with a hollow frusto-conical portion l8 joined integrally at its inner end with the lower end of the cylindrical portion I6. The larger diameter of the frusto-conical portion 18 is lowermost and is open. Fitting within the frusto-conical portion 3 of the nozzle body 15 is a nozzle member l9 which has an external contour coinciding with the internal contour of the frusto-conical portion I 8 so that it will nest therein as illustrated.

At the lower end of the cylin- (Cl. 1'5899). v I i It will be noticed that there is a series of Iongitudinal grooves formed in the. outer surface orperiphery of the nozzle member l9 so that gas and air entering the interior'of the hollow cylindrical portion E6 of the nozzle body will be directed downwardly and outwardly. through these grooves so that a frusto-conical flame will be produced at the outer end of. the nozzle. a A tube 2% is provided, the upper end of which is threaded upwardly through the nozzle: member it so as to communicate at its upper end with the interior of the nozzle body l5 above the nozzle member la. The other or lower end of the tube is fitted with a venturi' 2i, centrally'into which a fuel nozzle 22 projects. This nozzle 22', of course, is connected by means of-a pipe 23 with a source of fuel, which may be either natural or manufactured gas, or what is 001m monly termed tank gas suchas butane.

It is obvious, therefore, that by this medium gas and air will be propelled upwardly through the tube 2% into the upper end of the nozzle body through the grooves in the outer surface of the nozzle member t9, and project in a conical fashion so as to produce a frusto-conical flame at It will be seen that when the flame from the nozzle is directed downwardly, that the lower baflle will intercept the same and direct it 'radially outward. The upper baflie will prevent the direct rising of the heat and therefore assist in directing it radially outward.

Arranged concentrically about the nozzle is a radiating screen 26 which is suspended from the nozzle body l5 by a spider 2?. It is seen that the outwardly directed flame from'the nozzle will heatthi's screen and prevent the flame from emanating directly outward so as to eliminate fire hazard. This screen, however, will become extremely heated so that the heat will be radiated radially outward therefrom to effect the heating.

In the event that it is desirable to use tank gas or other type of gas requiring preheating, I have provided a heating chamber or coil 28 just underneath the lower bafile plate 24 so it will become l5 and thence will travel downwardly heated by radiation and conduction. This heating chamber is in efiect a large tube connected. at one end to the pipe line 29 leading to the source of gas supply, and at its other end to the tube 23 leading o the fuel nozzle 22. A valve 30 is provided to enable controlling of the gas supply to the fuel nozzle 22.

In operation of the device, it is constructed and assembled as illustrated in the drawing, and if it is who supported from the ground between the rows of trees, the legs II are connected with the lower bafile 24. If the device is to be suspended within a tree, the legs ll may be dispensed with and the device suspended in proper position by means of the hook [2. The line 29 is then connected with a source of gas supply and the valve 30 is opened to direct the fuel to the fuel nozzle 22. As the fuel is projected into the tube 20, air will be drawn through the lower end of the venturi to 'co-mingle therewith and pass into the hollow upper portion [6 of the nozzle body [5. It will then project downwardly and outwardly through the grooves in the nozzle member [9 so that it may be ignited at the lower end of the nozzle to produce the flame. This flame will impinge against the lower bafiie 24 and heat the same and then will be directed radially outward to heat the surrounding screen 26. As this screen 26 becomes heated, the heat will be radiated thereaoqfrom to a large area surrounding the heater.

The screen, of course, will tend to confine the flame within it so as to eliminate the possibility of any destruction by the flame.

It will be seen that by directing the gas fuel upwardly that the cold airbelow the heater will be utilized, and that by directing the flame downwardly and then outwardly, maximum efficiency will be obtained by preventing the direct rise of provided a very simple and efficient orchard heat er, from which the heat is directed to the area to be heated by radiation rather than by direct flame, and which i's'provided with a very simple and eflicient burner capable of use either with natural, manufactured or tank gas.

While I have shown the preferred form of my invention, it is to be understood that various changes may be made in its construction by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure'by Letters Patent is:

1. A burner including a hollow nozzle having an imperforate upper end, said nozzle having a plurality of circumferentially spaced and downwardly and outwardly extending passageways arranged in a circle about the center of said nozzle and extending through the lower end thereof, a tube disposed coaxially of said nozzle from a point below the same and upwardly through the lower end thereof, a venturi on the lower end of said tube, and a fuel nozzle located centrally of said venturi whereby fuel and air will be delivered upwardly through said tube into said nozzle whereby the same may discharge downwardly through said passageways, a lower baffle plate arranged parallel to the lower end of said nozzle at a spaced distance below the same and coaxially thereof, the said baffie plate being of a diameter greater than the lower end of said nozzle, and a heat radiating screen member circumscribing the exterior of said lower bafiie plate and extending a distance upwardly therefrom.

V 2. A burner including a hollow nozzle body having an upper imperforate cylindrical portion with a closed upper end, a frusto-conical portion extending from the lower end of said cylindrical portion with its larger diameter lowermost, a nozzle member fitting the interior contour of said frusto-conical portion and having a plurality of longitudinal grooves formedin its outer surface, a tube extending from a point below said nozzle member and upwardly through the same, a venturi on the lower end of said tube, a fuel nozzle at the lower end of said venturi to direct fuel upwardly. through said tube, the upper end of said tube communicating with the hollow cylindrical portion of the nozzle body whereby to deliver fuel and air thereto so that the same may discharge downwardly through said grooves, and a lower bafiie member arranged parallel to the plane of the lower end of said nozzle member at a spaced distance below the same and of an area greater than the area of the lower end of the nozzle member, and a heat radiating screen circumscribing the periphery of said lower baffle and extending a distance upwardly therefrom.

3. A burner including a hollow nozzle body having an upper imperforate cylindrical portion with a closed upper end, a frusto-conical portion extending from the lower end of said cylindrical portion v with its larger diameter lowermost, a nozzle member fitting the interior contour of said frusto-conical portion and having a plurality of longitudinal grooves formed in its outer surface, a tube extending from a point below said nozzle member and upwardly through the same, a venturi on the lower end of said tube, a fuel nozzle at the lower end of said venturi to direct fuel upwardly through said tube, the upper end of said tube communicating with the hollow cylindrical portion of the nozzle body whereby to deliverfuel and air thereto so that the same may discharge downwardly through said grooves, a lower bafiie member arranged parallel to the plane of the lower end of said nozzle member at a spaced distance below the same and of an area greater than the area of the lower end of the nozzle member, and a heat radiating screen circumscribing the periphery of said lower bafiie and extendinga distance upwardly therefrom, an upper baflle arranged parallel to the lower bafile adjacent the upper end of said screen and over the upper end of said nozzle body, the lower b'aflie, upper bafile, screen and nozzle body being interconnected.

PERCY M. FORSTER. 

